Onion-topping machine



F.1.S1CHR0EDER. .omoN' ToPPlNG MACHINE. j j APPLICATION FILED ocr. 2l, |92- Q ank f/-dlroeden nniienV STATES'"iii're1v'i OFFICE.

FRANK J. sonnonnnn, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK;

' slightly convex at the ytop 'to'conorintothe f arc-v described by the cutting bar inr rocking'v Specification of Letters Patent. Ppwi-.eted lay 24', `1i921 Aapplicationinea october 21, le20.` ser-iai No. 418,558.

Topping Machines,`of-which the following' invention is'to provide machine :tor

` will be fully illustrated in the-drawings, de-

scribed in theA specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is ay perspectivevie'w of the onion topper.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, verticalsectiointlI view of the onion topper.y

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View ot' onev of the cutting barsv of the onion topper.

In the severalA iguresof the drawings, 5 A e `bar -a different angular setting so that the cutting operation of half of the knives oclke reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings, reference numei'al 1 indicates the trame of the machine which is supported on suitable uprights or legs 2. .At eachV end of this frame is mounted to rotate an elongated pulley 3 and 4:, over which -a series of belts 5, 6, 7, 8 and)y are adapted to travel. These belts vtravel over a casing 10, mounted in the frame 1, which is provided with the slots 11, 1,2, 13l and 14;. These slots are located adjacent to they belts 5, 6, 7, S and 9, and separate ,the` belts from onel another. t each rside "of each ofthe slots 11, 12, 13 and 1tonthefinside thereof is mounted a stationary cutting bar 15 which coperates with the rocking 'cutting bars 16 mounted on the inside of the casing' 10 below the slots. The cutting bars 16 are prefer?` ably made up of a cast ironbridge ,17,1011

each end or" which is provided a pivotpin 18 for the cuttingbar 17 to 'rock on. The pivot pins 18 are mounted in suitable bearingsv on the inside of the casing at either end thereof. ToV the top ot the bridge 17v is fastened thefcuttingedgez'20 which iis back andforth below thels'lot in theras'ing and between thestationary cuttingv bars 15.

The cutting bars 16'are operatedby the connecting `links u 21 which I connect every alternate bai' together and to the connecting rod 22, operated by the crank shaft 23.

The cutting bars are yieldingly fastened to the connecting` links by means of a Collar2l which is held ina predetermined position on .the link by. the-expansion springs 25 and 26,.on`e on eachk side of, the collar 24:,and spaced between the adjustable nuts 27 and 28. By adjusting thejtension of the springs 25 and, 26k by'mcans of the nutsv 27 and 218,`

the collar 24 may be lheld-in a proper posi- 'tion' on the connecting link and hold the 'cutting bar 16 in its proper .cutting positionvwithy relation to` the stationarycuttingV bars 15.

VThe top of` the` collar 24'is bifurcated to receivethe tongue 29 provided on the lower 'end ofthe bridge 17. The bridgel and collar are thus connected ,together and on the reciprocationof the connecting links 21 by the crank shaft'23l operate to rock the, cutting bar backand forth below one of kthe bars 15.

,slots land between .the stationary cutting l,

In order to give every alternate cutting:v

curs at different intervalsin order to make below which they operate, while the other cutting bars uncover their slots, half of the cuttingbarsare operated `trom the crank 30 and the other khalf 4are operated kfrom the `rpart vof the 'cutting bars rcover the slotsy crank 31 of the crank' shaft23. 1n this way,

ever alternate cuttinp bar ris `di'iven at one C) `end of the machine while the other. cutting` bars areoperated i'roin the other end of the machine f The crank shaft 23is mounted in suitable i bearings 32, and 33 onthe outside ofthe carrying` the elongated pulley 1. The pulley l et is driven by any suitable motive power' through the belt 36.

` ldounted below the casing` 10 is thefeig# haust 4tan 37. ,y yThis ian is driven by the belt 38 Afrom the pulley 39 keyed onfthe shaft carryingfthc elongated pulley 4l. The intaker y ofthe 1fan 37 is connected with the exhaust opening `ofthe casingI through the pipe 10 i and on the operation of the fan, the y, air` in the 'casing is `*exhausted and a partial vacuum is createdtherein.

In operationk the onions are dumped intoy the' hopper 11 at the lieadof the machine, from which they slide onto the belts 5, 6, 7,

8 and 9. As these belts revolveV they drag the onions with them over the top of the machine. On their travel over the machine the partial vacuum created on the inside of the casing l operates to draw the tops of the onions into the slots between the belts. The tops thus drawn into the casing are then clipped olf by the knives on the reciprocation thereof. rIhe onions with the tops clipped off are then carried by the belts to the other end ofy the machine where they drop through the chute 4:2 into the crate 43.

The tops clipped off by the knives are drawn through the exhaust fan and forced out through the exhaust end thereof into a conveyer pipe twhich is adapted to deposit the tops in a stack at any convenient point at a distance from the location of the onion topping machine.

As heretofore pointed out, half 0f the cut ting bars covefthe slots below which they operate, while the other half has uncovered their slots and is in a position for slipping the tops that are pulled through the slots by the vacuum created in the casing. In this way, a greater vacuum can be maintained in the casing which insures the pulling of the tops into the slots in the casing. Should all ofthe slots or part of them get clogged up by the tops of the onions, the relief valve 45 provided on the casing. operates'to admit air into the casing. This insures an even vacuum pressure in the casing so that the tops of the onions are pulled into the slots with a uniform pull at all times.

On each side of the frame lis provided a side board 46 betweenv which the belts travel` These side boards prevent the onions from dropping off from the belts at the sides of the .machine while being conveyed from one end of the' machine to the other end thereof.

I claim:

l. In an onion topping machine, the combination of a casing having longitudinal slots therein, means for creating a partial lvacuum in said casing, means for conveying onions on either side of the slots in said casing and parallel thereto, and means for clipping ofl' the tops of the onions pulled into the slots ofthe casing by the partial vacuum created in said casing. Y

2. In an onion topping machine, the combination of a frame, a pulley mounted at eachl end of said frame, endless conveyer belts travelingl over said pulleys, said belts being spaced apart from each other` means to draw the tops of onions conveyed by said belts between said belts, and means to clipy off the tops of the onions between said belts.

3. In an onion topping machine, the combination of a frame, a casing mounted in said frame, a pulley mounted at each end of Y said casing, said casing having-slots cut into the top thereof, endless belts traveling over said casing between said pulleys and on each side of the slots provided therein, knives mounted to rock in said casing below the slots in said casing, and means to create a partial vacuum in said casing.

4. In an onion topping machine, the com bination of a frame, a casing having slots in the top thereof mounted in said frame, endless belt-s traveling over said casing adjacent to the slots in the casing, knives Inountedto rock in said casing below the slots, connecting links connecting said knives, a crank, vand a connecting rod connecting said connecting links with said crank.A

V5. In an onion topping machine, the cornbination ofra frame, a casing having slots in the top thereof mounted in said frame, endless belts traveling over said casing adjacent to the slots therein, an exhaust fan connected t0 said casing `tovcreate a partial vacuum in said casing, cutting knives mounted to reciprocate below the slots in said Vcasin and means o eratinff said cutting 7 a; i.

knives.

6. In an onion topping machine, the com-v bination of a frame, a casing having slots in the top thereof mounted in said frame. endless belts traveling over said casing adjacent to the slots provided therein` cutting bars mounted to rock below the slots in said casing, connecting links for operating said cutting knives, yielding means for connecting said knives to said connecting links, a crank for operating said connecting links and means to adjust the connection between said cutting knives and said connecting links i to make said cutting knives operate'in different angular positions.

7. In an onion topping machine. the combination of a series of cutting bars` a lever provided for each of said cutting bars, a sleeve connected to said lever, aconnectingv link passing through said sleeve, a spring ou each side of said sleeve surrounding said connecting linlgsaid springs being adaptedv to hold said sleeve on said connecting link yieldingly in a predetermined position thereon.

8. In an onion topping machine, the oombination of a casing having longitudinal slots therein, a stationarycutting edge on each ,side of the slots in said casing and below them. a movable cutting bar below the slots in said casing, said cutting bar being adapted to pass said stationary cutting edges on the reciprocation thereof, conveyer belts on either side of the slots of said casing?.V and means to draw the tops of the onions bei tween said cutting edges.

In testimony Awhereof I affix my signature.

FRANK J. SCHROEDER. 

